The Russian-born Swiss, winner of the halfpipe title at the Winter Games two years ago, hopes to make the transition to the skateboard for the event in the Japanese capital but has first vowed to defend his Olympic title at Pyeongchang 2018.

Skateboarding was officially added to the programme for Tokyo 2020 along with baseball softball, surfing, sport climbing and karate during the recent International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session ahead of Rio 2016.

In an interview with Swiss newspaper NZZ, Podladtchikov, a world champion in 2013, confirmed his desire to take part in the historic Olympic skateboarding event, claiming it will “make his Olympic experience complete”.

“I will not have the 2020 approach a chance to win, but I think that the qualification is possible,” he said.

“Maybe even the finals, even if it all has to fit.

“One of the reasons that I have set myself Tokyo goal is the IOC has decided the opening of skating.

"When I was approached in the first hour after the Olympic victory in 2014 by dozens of people they all said, ‘See you in 2018’."

He added: “I was perplexed, because until then I had no thought of 2018, so I said, 'I'll have a night's sleep.'

"And when I awoke the next morning, I knew I 2018 will return again and defend my title. 

"Little has changed since then, nothing has changed, but I have realised: If I want to be successful, the end must not be in 2018.

“A farewell at the peak - I cannot get together in my head.

“It would be an abrupt departure, and good departures are never abrupt, neither in sports nor in life.”

Skateboarding’s road to inclusion at Tokyo 2020 has been fraught with difficulties and concerns, largely over who will organise Olympic competition.

It was announced earlier this month that International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) President Gary Ream is to chair the new Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding Commission.

As the only IOC-recognised body with a connection to the sport, the official governing body for new street and park events will be the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS), led by Italian Sabatino Aracu.

But Ream, the American entrepreneur and skate camp organiser, will lead the organisational panel billed as a “collaboration” between FIRS and the ISF.